Role of Ict in Scm

The supply chain management is considered as a management concept from past two decades as the customers are concerned about timely and safe delivery. The competitiveness has been increasing among the companies to deliver the products as quickly as possible to the customers all around the world. This has made the supply chain management as a vital tool for the management. This is also measured as a competitive parameter for the companies.

Supply chains must be managed to coordinate the inputs with the outputs in a firm to achieve the appropriate competitive priorities of the firm’s enterprise processes. The Internet offers firms an alternative to traditional methods for managing supply chains. A supply chain strategy is essential

Supply Chain Management (SCM) aims at integrating all corporate activities to improve relationships at all levels (internal operations, supplier networks, and distribution channel) to meet the competitive edge and satisfy the customer. In order to build an effective and complete business process that supports SCM, information among all business partners need to be shared. Information sharing through the Internet reduces the gap for business-to-business (B2B) commerce by enabling seamless integration with enterprise processes among partner corporations.

While researching on line I came across an article that described the affect that the Internet is having on supply chains today. “E-enabled supply chain management is fast emerging as a core strategy that organizations worldwide are adopting for sustainable business advantage”. (4)

The topic of the research has been discussed that what actually supply chain management (SCM) is, where it is utilized and what its importance in a business are, and why it is necessary to go for a research in this field. Additionally, opinions of different authors has been given that how an organisation could reduce their costs on the basis of supply chain management and why should the managers reshape or reconstruct this section of their business and what will be the benefits of those changes.

Supply chain management is a valuable practice whose purpose is to offer businesses a competitive advantage in the market place. According to Jacoby, D. (2010), some companies like Walmart and Dell have applied this system to gain a competitive advantage in the market while others have failed to apply it owing to its complexity. Companies require adequate and accurate information about all the players in the chain management in order for them to meet their consumers, demands while maintaining health relationships with their suppliers. Technology plays a pivotal role in availing such information, and as such, it is an effective tool for chain management. If done in the right way, then organizations will be ahead of the rest of the competitors in the market place. It is for this reason that organizations should invest in proper supply chain management in order for them to enhance their revenues while cutting on the costs.

Supply chain management (SCM) systems have been a new and steady buzz word from late last century up to today. Large companies depend on SCM systems to reduce cost and increase revenue. This article explores the relevant use of SCM systems in today’s business world through different means of analysis, such as SCM performance, variables associated with cost and revenues, and business, supplier and customer relationships. It advocates for their use and provide quantitative analytics to support their position.

In today’s rapidly changing business environment, ever-greater demands are being placed on business on every industry, such as to provide products and services quicker, with greater added value, to the correct location, with no relevant inventory position, etc. However, customers are more sophisticated by wanting more quality, design, innovation, choice, convenience and service, and they want to spend less money, effort, time and risk. Hence, every business has to deal with highly competitive situation in order to survive; Supply Chain Management (SCM) becoming the main topic for improving efficiency and satisfy customer’s need.

Supply chain management is composed of different elements that play a crucial role in the survival and success of a business. Supply chain management is a chain of elements that consists of customers, planning, purchasing, inventory, production and transportation which are managed through tactical, strategic and operational levels. Technology covers a major functional role in supply chain without which the activities and responsibilities of supply chain may not be achieved. The global issue of supply chain revolves around communication where it is important to communicate in supplier communities. Other issues of communication involve language barrier and difference in cultural behaviors. Other considerations involve political stability of the country in which the businesses are resourcing. Some factors to be aware of the type of governments in the market, the level of civil unrest and the possible terrorism concerns. Sustainable supply chain is a critical business issue where companies need to strengthen their supply chain by setting stronger policies and higher standards for environmental and social performance. Supply chains are critical links that synchronizes the inputs of the companies with its outputs. Critical businesses challenges are always involved in any type of business some of them are in concern with supply chain are bringing the prices down, making sure of on time delivery and decreasing transportation time for a better reaction to business

In recent years, the impact of E-Commerce (EC) on supply chain (SC) has caught considerable attention. Many companies in the supply chain engage themselves in the field of EC to pursue benefits.

E-business allows us to be more competitive with other organisations by giving us the ability to share information and communicate throughout the organisation but also beyond that. It allows us to build relationships with our partners and customer. Supply chain management coordinates every part of the supply chain and this can be made easier through e-business as now communication can happen at almost no cost.

The lack of technology in traditional systems does not provide very much coordination with the supply chain. As a result there is possible delay in delivery of products and services from the supplier to the customer. Additionally the unavailability or delayed delivery of customer information takes away from adding value to customers and may in turn decrease profitability and performance. “Advances in information technology have radically changed access to information and in turn the business landscape, so much so, that the current business era is frequently referred to as the information age.” (Jiambalvo 2007, p. 14). As technology continues to advanced companies are realizing that in order to keep up the pace in a competitive global market there is a need for change in the way they conduct business regarding suppliers and customers. Companies are moving towards systems such as Supply Chain Management and Customer Relationship Management Systems that are more efficient in processing information and fuel improved operation of the value chain and interactions with suppliers and

Supply chain management is currently an important aspect in Management Information System. So much technology and brainpower have been used to improve the performance. In this decade electronic data interchange has made the process flexible, automatic warehousing and rapid logistics. Every organizations are trying to make their supply chain management more accurate using quick response, efficient customer response, mass customization, lean and agile manufacturing. (Fisher, 1997)

‘Electronic commerce and the Internet are fundamentally changing the nature of supply chains, and redefining how consumers learn about, select, purchase, and use products and services’ (Sreenivas, 2007)

With the rapid increase of operation cost and fast development of E-commence in today’s retail industry, traditional operation management models are antiquated. Companies attempt to enhance competitive capacity through management innovation, and an increasing amount of attention is paid to their supply chain management for the purpose of cost reduction, risk minimization and better customer satisfaction. Modern techniques like vendor partnership, operational innovations and information technology are adopted by retailers in order to manage their supply chain properly.